Antenna structure



y 1955 J. KLANCNIK, JR 2,748,387

ANTENNA STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 23, 1953 IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent O ANTENNA STRUCTURE Frank J. Klancnik, In, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Hi-Lo TV Antenna Corp., Chicago, IlL, a corporation of Illinois Application December 23, 1953, Serial No. 400,071

19 Claims (Cl. 343-793) The present invention relates in general to radio wave antenna systems, and has more particular reference to an improved antenna structure especially well suited for use in conjunction with television signal receiving apparatus.

An important object of the invention is to provide an antenna structure of small readily portable character, well adapted for indoor use in position supported as on top of the housing of a conventional television receiving set or in other suitable or convenient location; a further object being to provide an antenna structure of the character mentioned having readily adjustable means for precisely tuning the structure for the reception at optimum eiiiciency of a radio wave of selected frequency within the wave receiving range of the structure.

Another important object is to provide an antenna structure especially suited for the effective reception of all radio waves within the ultra-high frequency range currently employed for television broadcasting purposes, including adjustable means forming a part of the antenna structure whereby the same may be tuned to permit the reception at optimum efficiency of a wave of selected frequency.

Another object is to provide an antenna structure embodying a rod or pole element suitably supported in position to intercept a Wave to be'received and a tuning member adjustable longitudinally of the rod for antenna tuning purposes; a further object being to form said tuning member as a closed loop inductively coupled with the rod.

Another important object is to provide a radio wave antenna comprising a suitably supported rod or pole and a tuning member comprising a coil of wire inductively coupled with the rod and mounted thereon for longitudinal adjusting movement.

Another object is to provide a mounting sleeve on and movable longitudinally of the rod or pole element of an antenna and to connect the opposite ends of a wire tuning element on said sleeve while disposing the medial portions of said wire as a loop encircling and inductively coupled with the rod; a further object being to form said mounting sleeve with a pair of axially extending pocket forming ducts in a flange on said sleeve for receiving the ends of the wire element; a still further object being to secure the wire element on the sleeve by swagging the ends thereof behind said flange to secure the same in said pockets.

Another object is to provide a dipole antenna structure comprising a pair of alined rods supported on and extending oppositely from a suitable mounting, in combination with tuning means for each pole comprising coil elements each inductively coupled with a corresponding rod and shiftable longitudinally thereof; a further object being to employ rods of electrical conducting material secured in sockets formed in a mounting comprising insulating material; a still further object being to provide for electrically connecting the rods each with a corresponding lead wire merely by applying the lead wires in the sockets through lateral openings therein and mounting the rod-s axially into the sockets.

Another important object resides in providing simplified means for electrically connecting a conductor wire with the socket supported end of a rod or pole element of an antenna structure which consists in beveling the mounted end of the rod so that the same may Wedgingly engage the conductor in the socket and thereby firmly mount the rod in the socket in position electrically connected with said conductor.

Another important object is to provide an antenna structure precisely sized to resonate in response to a radio wave of selected frequency disposed substantially medially-within the ultra-high frequency television transmitting wave band, whereby said structure may acceptably receive signal waves of any frequency within said band, and furthermore to provide auxiliary antenna tuning components adjustably disposed in the antenna structure whereby the same may be precisely tuned to resonate at any desired frequency, within the operating range of the antenna structure, whereby to provide for the reception, at optimum eificiency, of radio waves having said frequency.

Among the numerous other objects of the invention is to provide an improved multiple component antenna structure embodying components of relatively simple form and a minimal number of parts adapted for low cost manufacture and assembly.

The foregoing and numerous other important objects, advantages and inherent functions of the invention will become apparent as the same is more fully understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an antenna structure embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a slightly different arrangement of parts forming the antenna structure;

Fig. 3 is asectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 in Fig. 1;

*Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view showing a portion of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line 5-5 in Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 in'Fig. 5; and

Figs. 7 and 8 are views illustrating modified forms of a component forming part of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

To illustrate the invention the drawing shows a radio wave antenna structure 11 comprising a pair of rods or poles 12 disposed in coaxial alinement to form a dipole antenna combination, a suitable mounting 13 being provided for supporting the rods. The mounting 13 may conveniently comprise. a generally cylindrical block of insulating material having mounting pockets 15 opening 'at the opposite ends of the block in position to snugly receive and support the adjacent ends of the rods 12.

The present invention contemplates simplified means for electricallyjconnecting the supported ends of the rods 12 each with a corresponding conductor element 16 whereby the antenna structure maybe connected with apparatus such as a radio or television receiver with which it is adapted to be used. To this end the mounting 13 may be provided with ducts 17 each extending radially of a corresponding socket 15 through the walls thereof; and the ends of the rods 12 may be beveled as at 18. By inserting the conductors 16 in the ducts 17 with the bated ends of the conductors extending within the sockets 15 and by then applying the beveled ends of the rods 12 axially into the sockets 15, the beveled ends of the rods may be caused to wedgingly engage and squeeze the bared ends of the conductors 16 against the inner walls of the 3 sockets 15, adjacent the ducts 17. The ducts 17 are both preferably sized to snugly receive the insulating sheath which surrounds the conductor 16. The sockets 15 also are both sized to provide a snug slip fit with the rods 12 so that when the same are applied each in its corresponding socket, each rod will not only make electrical connection with its corresponding conductor 16 but will wedgingly secure itself and its corresponding conductor firmly in the socket of the mounting 13 in which it is assembled.

It should be' understood that, for optimum wave receiving efiiciency, an antenna structure should be accurately sized in accordance with the wave length of the wave to be received. In providing a structure of standardized character for distribution as a packaged commodity, it is, of course, desirable to size the structural components to afford acceptable wave reception at all frequencies within the wave length range for which the antenna structure is to be used. Accordingly, the dimensions of the antenna components should be so selected as to cause the structure to resonate normally at a frequency medially between the upper and lower frequency limits of the range within which the antenna structure is to be used.

Where the antenna is to be used for the reception of signal waves having frequency within the ultra-high wave frequency range in which television broadcasting is currently accomplished, the rods 12 may have lengths of the order of nine inches; and it is convenient to form the rods 12 as metal tubes having wall thickness of the order of inch and overall diameter of the order of inch. The mounting 13 also may be formed so that the inner ends of the rods 12, when assembled on the mounting 13, will be spaced apart a predetermined distance such that the overall length of the assembled dipole structure may be equal to one-half of the wave length of a signal wave having frequency medially of the upper and lower limits of the wave band for which the antenna structure is designed. A dipole antenna structure having an overall length of the order of, say, nineteen inches is thus sized to resonate in response to a signal wave of frequency substantially midway between the upper and lower frequency limits of the ultra-high frequency television transmission band.

The present invention contemplates simplified and inexpensive means whereby the structure may be accurately tuned for the reception at optimum efliciency of signal waves having any specific frequency in the frequency range within which the antenna structure is designed to operate. To this end an adjustable tuning element 19 is provided for each of the rods 12, said tuning element comprising coiled conductor means inductively coupled with and adjustable along the rod 12- to be-tuned.

As shown, each tuning element 19 may conveniently comprise a length of conductor wire 20 having looped medial portions 20' forming any desired number of turns or coils. As shown. in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, the loopedv portions 20' may form a single turn; or the tuning. element may comprise a plurality of coils, as shown in-Fig. 8. Any suitable, preferred or convenient means may be provided for mounting the coiled wire element '20 for adjusting movement longitudinally of the rod 12, with the looped portions in position encircling and inductively coupled with the rod. I I

As shown more especially in Figs. 5 and 6-of the drawings, the element 20 may be mounted upon asupport sleeve 21 sized to silidingly receive the rod'1-2' for adjustment longitudinally thereof. The rods 12, wires-20 and sleeve 21 may be fabricated from any preferred electrical conducting material, aluminum being especially suitable for the purpose. Each sleeve 21 may be formed with a peripheral groove 22, medially of itsopposite-ends, and defining an outstanding flange 23, at an end of-the'sleeve, on one side of the groove. The flange 23 may be-formed with a pair of channels 24 therethrough,- said channels being sized. to snugly receive theopposite ends of the element 20 with the terminal extremities of said ends extending in the groove 22. By swagging said terminal extremities in the groove, the element 20 may be firmly and rig-idly anchored to and supported on the sleeve member 21 in position disposing the loop portions 20' substantially concentrically about the rod 12 when the sleeve 21 is mounted on the rod. A set screw 26 mounted in the flange 23 in position to bear upon the rod 12 within the sleeve member 21 may be provided for anchoring the sleeve member in any desired position of adjustment longitudinally of the rod 12.

As shown more particularly in Fig. 7 of the drawing, the opposite ends of the loop forming length of wire 20 may be helically twisted, as shown more particularly at 27, in order to form a mounting sleeve for the snug reception of the rod 12, said helically twisted wire portions serving to secure the element 19 in adjusted position longitudinaliy of the rod 12 and also yielding to permit the tuning element to be adjusted on the rod. As shown in Fig. 1, the tuning elements 19 may be mounted with the looped portions 20 thereof extending toward the outwardly extending ends of the dipole rods 12. If desired, however, useful results may be attained by mounting the elements 19, upon the dipole rods, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, with the looped portions 20 of the tuning elements extending toward the inner ends of the dipole rods which are supported in the mounting 13.

The opposite ends of each coiled wire element are preferably electrically interconnected together and with the rod 12 on which the element is mounted. Where each rod 12 of the dipole structure thus carries a cooperating coiled wire element 19 electrically connected therewith, it will be seen that the arrangement comprises the equivalent of a so-called stacked dipole array in which the rods 12 form the primary dipole combination, while the coiled wire elements 19 provide a secondary adjustable dipole structure'in parallel or stacked relation with respect to the rods 12 forming the primary dipole component. Where both ends of a coiled wire element 19 are connected with the rod 12 on which the element is mounted, the connection preferably should be accomplished at a common locus on the rod, to avoid electrical connection of the opposed ends of the element with longitudinally spaced portions of the rod. If desired, the coiled wire elements 19 may be electrically insulated from the rods 12. In such case, the structure will not comprise a stacked dipole array, but will nevertheless provide a tunable dipole arrangement in which the opposite ends of each coil element 19 may be either electrically connected to form a closed or short-circuited coil element, or may be electrically insulated to constitute the element as an open coil. In order to relatively insulate the rod and tuning components, the same may be anodized to apply an electrical insulating coating upon the surfaces of the rods 12, the coil elements 20 and the sleeves 21. The anodized insulating coatings thus applied on the opposite ends of the wire elements 20 and on the sleeves 21 including the surfaces of the channels 24 will electrically insulate the wire elements from their supporting sleeves. The sleeves 21 or the coiled mounting portions 27 and the rods will likewise be mutually insulated by the anodized coatings on the rods and upon the interior surfaces of the sleeves and coiled mounting portions.

To electrically interconnect the components, it is of course merely necessary to omit or remove the insulating coating between the parts to be connected. Either or both ends of the element 20, as shown in Fig. 5, may be electrically connected with the rod 12 by omitting the insulating coatings on the rod and sleeve and from such of the channel mounted ends of the element 20 as are to be electrically connected with the rod through" the sleeve. It will be seen also that the opposite ends of each element 20, when arranged to electrically connect with the rod'12, will do so through the common sleeve 21 or the coiled sleeve means 27, so that the opposite ends of the member 20 will not be electrically connected with the rod at longitudinally spaced locations therein.

In order to support the antenna structure 11 in position for operation, the mounting 13 may be provided medially with a laterally opening socket 28 having an axis extending preferably in the plane of and normal to the alined axes of the rod sockets 15. This socket 28 may serve to removably receive a suitable upright support member 29, thereby to detachably support the antenna structure 11 upon the member 29. Such support member 29, for manufacturing expediency, may comprise a tube of material identical to that employed in forming the dipole rods 12. Any suitable or preferred means may be employed for mounting or supporting the member 29. As shown, an end of the member 29 may be removably secured in a socketed pedestal 30, so that the entire structure may be mounted on a suitable support, such as a table, or on the top of the housing of a television receiver. When so placed, the antenna structure may be directionally adjusted with ease, merely by turning the same about the axis of the upright support member 29.

It is thought that the invention and its numerous attendant advantages will be fully understood from the foregoing description, and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages, the form herein disclosed being a preferred embodiment for the purpose of illustrating the invention.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. Antenna structure embodying a pair of rods forming a dipole antenna combination, and an auxiliary antenna component for each rod comprising a length of wire supported each on its associated rod and embodying a medial coil portion encircling and spaced outwardly of the rod on which it is supported the opposite ends of each wire being electrically interconnected.

2. Antenna structure embodying a pair of rods forming a dipole antenna combination, and an auxiliary antenna component for each rod comprising a length of wire supported each on its associated rod and embodying a medial coil portion encircling and spaced outwardly of the rod on which it is supported, and electrically interconnected opposite end portions slidingly supported on said rod.

3. Antenna structure embodying a pair of rods forming a dipole antenna combination, and a tuning element for each rod, each said element comprising a sleeve structure supported on, snugly embracing, and movable longitudinally of its associated rod and a length of wire having medial coil portions encircling and spaced outwardly of the associated rod, the opposite ends of said length of wire being electrically interconnected and secured to said sleeve structure to support the said coil portions in operative position.

4. Antenna structure embodying a pair of rods forming a dipole antenna combination, and a tuning element for each rod, each said element comprising a sleeve structure supported on, electrically connected with, and movable longitudinally of its associated rod and a length of wire having medial coil portions encircling and spaced outwardly of the associated rod, the opposite ends of said length of wire being electrically interconnected and mechanically and electrically secured to said sleeve structure to support the said coil portions in operative position.

5. Antenna structure embodying a pair of rods forming a dipole antenna structure and a tuning element for each of said rods, each element comprising a length of wire having medial portions coiled about and spaced outwards of its associated rod and electrically interconnected end portions slidingly supported on said rod.

6. Antenna structure embodying a pair-of rods forming a dipole antenna structure and a tuning element for each of said rods, each element comprising a length of wire having medial portions coiled about and spaced outwards of its associated rod and electrically interconnected end portions slidingly supported on said rod and electrically insulated therefrom.

7. Antenna structure embodying a pair of rods forming a dipole antenna structure and a tuning element for each of said rods, each element comprising a length of wire having medial portions coiled about and spaced outwards of its associated rod and electrically interconnected end portions slidingly supported on said rod, each rod being anodized to electrically insulate the same from its associated tuning element.

8. Antenna structure embodying a pair of rods forming a dipole antenna structure and a tuning element for each of said rods, each element comprising a length of wire having medial portions coiled about and spaced outwards of its associated rod and electrically interconnected end portions slidingly supported on said rod, the rod supported portions of said tuning element being anodized to electrically insulate the same from the associated rod.

9. Antenna structure embodying a pair of rods forming a dipole antenna structure and a tuning element for each of said rods, each element comprising a length of wire having medial portions coiled about and spaced outwards of its associated rod, and end portions slidingly supported on said rod, at least one of said end portions being electrically connected with said rod.

10. Antenna structure embodying a pair of rods forming a dipole antenna structure and a tuning element for each of said rods, each element comprising a length of wire having medial portions coiled about and spaced outwards of its associated rod, and end portions slidingly supported on and electrically connected with said rod.

11. Antenna structure embodying a pair of rods forming a dipole antenna structure and a tuning element for each of said rods, each element comprising a length of wire having medial portions coiled about and spaced outwards of its associated rod, and end portions slidingly supported on said rod, said end portions being coiled to form a mounting sleeve for snugly receiving the rod while permitting adjustment of the tuning element longitudinally of the rod.

12. Antenna structure embodying a pair of rods forming a dipole antenna structure and a tuning element for each of said rods, each element comprising a length of wire having medial portions coiled about and spaced outwards of its associated rod and a mounting sleeve of electrical conducting material supported for sliding movement longitudinally of the rod, said length of wire having opposed ends anchored upon and electrically connected with said sleeve.

13. Antenna structure embodying a pair of rods forming a dipole antenna structure and a tuning element for each of said rods, each element comprising a length of wire having medial portions coiled about and spaced outwards of its associated rod and a mounting sleeve of electrical conducting material supported for sliding movement longitudinally of the rod, said length of wire having opposed ends anchored upon and electrically connected with said sleeve, and means insulating said sleeve from its associated rod.

14. Antenna structure embodying a pair of rods forming a dipole antenna structure and a tuning element for each of said rods, each element comprising a length of wire having medial portions coiled about and spaced outwards of its associated rod and a mounting sleeve of electrical conducting material supported for sliding movement longitudinally of the rod, said length of wire having opposed ends anchored upon and electrically connected with said sleeve, and means for securing the sleeve in longitudinally adjusted position on its associated rod.

15. Antenna structure embodying a pair of rods forming a dipole antenna structure and a tuning element for each of said rods, each element comprising a length of wire having medial portions coiled about and spaced outwards of its associated rod and a mounting sleeve supported for sliding movement longitudinally of the rod, said length of wire having opposed ends anchored upon said sleeve, at least one of said ends being electrically connected with the sleeve whereby said electrically connected end may be electrically connected with the rod through said sleeve. 7

16. Antenna structure embodying a pair of rods forming a dipole antenna structure and a tuning element for each of said rods, each element comprising a length of wire having medial portions coiled about and spaced outwards of its associated rod and a mounting sleeve supported for sliding movement longitudinally of the rod, said length of wire having opposed ends anchored upon said sleeve, said sleeve having a flange formed with ducts therethrough sized to snugly receive the opposite ends of said length of wire and means to secure said ends in said ducts.

17. Antenna structure embodying a pair of rods forming a dipole antenna structure and a tuning element for each of said rods, each element comprising a length of wire having medial portions coiled about and spaced outwards of its associated rod and a mounting sleeve supported for sliding movement longitudinally of the rod, said length of wire having opposed ends anchored upon said sleeve, said sleeve having a flange formed with ducts therethrough sized to snugly receive the opposite ends of said length of wire, the extremities of said ends being swagged behind said flange to secure said coiled length of wire on said mounting sleeve.

18. As a new article of manufacture, an antenna structure comprising a pair of rods formed of electrically conductivematerial, disposed in a single plane, having certain ends thereof spaced in comparatively small distance apart, and operating together to form a primary dipole component, and a pair of tuning elements embodying coils extending around, and spaced outward from, the rods, respectively, formed of electrically conductive material, and operating to form a secondary dipole component, the ends of each coil being electrically connected to the associated rod at substantially a common locus.

.19. As a new article of manufacture, an antenna structure comprising a pair of spaced apart metallic rods operating together to form a primary dipole component and a pair of tuning elements associated with the rods respectively and operating to form a secondary dipole component, each of said tuning elements comprising a metallic sleeve extending around and in electrical contact with the associated rod and a length of wire having medial coil portions encircling and spaced outwards of the associated rod and its end portions connected electrically to the sleeve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,001,054 Lawrence Aug. 22, 1911 1,709,393 Fitch Apr. 16, 1929 2,237,778 Carter Apr. 8, 1941 2,583,745 Miller Jan. 29, 1952 2,636,986 Riderman Apr. 28, 1953 

